outside voice

noun

plural outside voices

1

: a person whose opinion, perspective, etc. differs from one's own or from that of a particular group

By being an objective outside voice, the board chair can reduce the likelihood of extreme performance outcomes …

—Ryan Krause et al.

Convinced I was right, I sought an outside voice: Judge John Hodgman, the comedian who writes a satiric ethical advice column for The New York Times Magazine. I explained our impasse in an email, and Hodgman replied in the May 20 issue …

—Andrew Silow-Carroll

The hard part about relationships is just trying to be in one without a million outside voices interfering.

—Travis Scott, quoted at usmagazine.com

My personal insight and advice to you is … to quiet outside voices, grow a backbone, and to be in charge of your life …

—Amy Dickinson

also : an opinion, perspective, etc. that differs from one's own or that of a particular group

This is a painstakingly crafted treatise on what it's like to live inside your own mind in an age where millions of outside voices are bombarding that mind endlessly.

—Drew Magary

… a long piece, with some good outside voices in it, was unplanned and written in one intense sprint.

—Bradford Doolittle

2

: a volume of speaking that is typically considered too loud to be used indoors (as at home or school)

… corrections like "sit still" or "you're using your outside voice, please use your inside voice" …

—Nancy Doyle

… at exactly the moment we were walking past a lineup at the check-out, in all innocence, she [a young child] used her loud outside voice and asked: "What colour are your panties, Grandma?"

—Helene Oseen

compare inside voice

Examples of outside voice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite wanting to be together, stepping out in the public eye proves challenging for the unlikely duo, as they’re tested by conflicting schedules, the pressures of fame and outside voices claiming their romance is a publicity stunt. —Jordana Comiter, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024

Governance structures intended to bring in outside voices should be complemented with a broader culture change toward working beyond central government, and putting power in the right places. —Emma Norris, TIME, 5 July 2024

The team and outside voices have repeatedly noted this next hire needs to be more about Davis and less about James, the soon-to-be 40-year-old star who is still expected to return to the Lakers. —Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1